RECONSTRUCTION PLAN KICKED OUT REID’S RELIEF AT SPFL VOTE

Birthday boost as Rovers avoid costly Brora trip

The SPFL reconstruction vote delivered a welcome 50th birthday present for Albion Rovers boss Brian Reid – as his side avoided a costly trip to Brora Rangers next season.

On Monday, as Reid marked his half century, SPFL clubs voted against plans to move from a 12-10-10-10 structure to an expanded 14-10-10-10 setup.

A 44- team SPFL would have seen Highland League champions Brora and Lowland League champions Kelty Hearts promoted to League Two, where Rovers currently play.

But that plan was rejected and the status quo maintained.

The new Rovers gaffer is working on a shoestring budget at Cliftonhill and knows the eightand-a-half-hour round trip to the Highlands would have hit the club in the pocket.

Asked for his reaction to the vote, a relieved Reid said: “It saves us a trip to Brora.

“I never realised how far away Brora is – it’s nearly up at John O’Groats. I was speaking to the chairman and the board the other day about that.

“It would have seen us leaving at 6am to get there for a Saturday game, so that would have been a long way up.

“No disrespect to Brora, I’m sure it’s a lovely place, but in terms of the geography of it, it would have been a long way to go and a lot of expense to the club to go up there.

“We’d have to get the bus, stop over for a pre-match meal somewhere. It would have been a bit of a cost.

“But now we know it’s as it was, we need to focus on that and getting a good squad together that will see us finish higher than we have in recent seasons.”

Reid spent his birthday walking his dog and spending time with his family.

But he added: “It might be parttime football, but it’s a full-time job, seven days a week.

“There’s not many places open that I can go to celebrate anyway, so I tried to take it easy.

“I’m still working daily to bring players in. I’ve put offers out to some players in the squad and we are waiting to hear back.

“My main focus is on that right now, to see what we’ve got and what we are needing.

“I’m hoping now that [ with reconstruction off the table] it will push the SPFL to get fixture lists and dates, so we can start planning. That will help everyone.

“With this stuff going on, it’s delayed everything. I hope this is the final seal on it and we can actually start moving.”

Money saved Rovers boss Reid